Every time I read one of your essays, I feel something that’s hard to describe. I think I feel lighter and more hopeful. I’ve met a number of black folks, and all of them have been different. I never thought much about it before, but now I see it clearly. I found myself enjoying all of them, and wish I knew how they are doing.
One woman and her husband were going to move out of the Detroit area to somewhere out East. Her husband was a bus driver, and they had a couple of kids. I met her when I was doing some temporary office work at one of the phone companies. They planned to start a mortuary! It was going to be a family business, and they were in the process of preparing themselves for the various things they would need to do to get it started. I thought that was wonderful, and I hope they made a go of it. I sure didn’t know anyone else who had such a well thought out plan for their future!
Another woman I met because I have horses. She was from Chicago, kept a horse at some stable, but would haul up to Wisconsin to join a group of women who liked to trail ride. She was married to a successful Jew (I forget what he did), and they were living large! I only got to see her about three times, but she was really nice, and fun to be around.
Two black people who could not have been more different.
I also worked at a manufacturing plant, and there was this great guy, whose last name was Christmas!! I worked in the office, but I had to walk partway through the plant to punch my timecard. I could always hear his booming voice, and when he’d spot me, he’d holler some kind of greeting. We talked a little, and he was always cheerful, with a big smile to match. I miss seeing him.
Do you know why I like writing? Because of comments like this that enable me to see the world through the eyes of others. Such an eloquent perception of the individual in humanity. And because of these comments, I continue to write/smile.
Nice essay! I hope you're not referring to me, Wink. I would not speak of Black culture because I do not believe in Black culture... Nor that any one ethnicity or skin color has a monolithic "culture." I did, however, define Culture. And I have no idea where in your substack I did this. Anyway... Busy day for me tomorrow!
Every time I read one of your essays, I feel something that’s hard to describe. I think I feel lighter and more hopeful. I’ve met a number of black folks, and all of them have been different. I never thought much about it before, but now I see it clearly. I found myself enjoying all of them, and wish I knew how they are doing.
One woman and her husband were going to move out of the Detroit area to somewhere out East. Her husband was a bus driver, and they had a couple of kids. I met her when I was doing some temporary office work at one of the phone companies. They planned to start a mortuary! It was going to be a family business, and they were in the process of preparing themselves for the various things they would need to do to get it started. I thought that was wonderful, and I hope they made a go of it. I sure didn’t know anyone else who had such a well thought out plan for their future!
Another woman I met because I have horses. She was from Chicago, kept a horse at some stable, but would haul up to Wisconsin to join a group of women who liked to trail ride. She was married to a successful Jew (I forget what he did), and they were living large! I only got to see her about three times, but she was really nice, and fun to be around.
Two black people who could not have been more different.
I also worked at a manufacturing plant, and there was this great guy, whose last name was Christmas!! I worked in the office, but I had to walk partway through the plant to punch my timecard. I could always hear his booming voice, and when he’d spot me, he’d holler some kind of greeting. We talked a little, and he was always cheerful, with a big smile to match. I miss seeing him.
Do you know why I like writing? Because of comments like this that enable me to see the world through the eyes of others. Such an eloquent perception of the individual in humanity. And because of these comments, I continue to write/smile.
This brings tears to my eyes. I sometimes worry that I end up writing too much! Thank you for this and your observations and beautiful stories.
Nice essay! I hope you're not referring to me, Wink. I would not speak of Black culture because I do not believe in Black culture... Nor that any one ethnicity or skin color has a monolithic "culture." I did, however, define Culture. And I have no idea where in your substack I did this. Anyway... Busy day for me tomorrow!